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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NATAL. 

 Br Majors E. A. Butler and H. W. Feu.den, and Capt. S. G. Reid. 



(Continued from p. 258.) 



Hyphantornis spilonotus (Vigors), Spotted-backed Weaver 

 Bird. — A male obtained by Reid on tbe banks of the Tugela 

 River, near Colenso, on the 21st November. A colony of these 

 birds was breeding in some tall trees close to the river ; the 

 nests were suspended from the topmost branches, and resembled 

 those of H. velatus, but were inaccessible. 



hyphantornis ocularius (Smith), Smith's Weaver Bird. — Reid 

 shot an immature male in some very dense bush near Durban, on 

 December 26th ; one or two others were seen at the same time. 



Euplectes xanthomelas (Riipp), Yellow Kafir Fink. — Obtained 

 commonly throughout our stay in the country. The sexes 

 resemble each other closely in their winter dress, the deep velvety 

 plumage not being completely assumed by the males till Septem- 

 ber or October. 



Euplectes oryx (Linn.), Red Fink. — Common and universally 

 distributed. Specimens of the male bird were obtained in all 

 stages of transition from winter to summer plumage, in October 

 and November. " Found breeding in considerable numbers 

 along the reedy streams near Maritzburg (Richmond Road), and 

 eggs obtained in December, though at that time many nests con- 

 tained young birds" (R). "Also breeding in the same places 

 in March, so it must nest twice" (R). The nests are constructed 

 of grasses, domed with a side entrance, and usually placed 

 among reeds, on the stems of which they are formed, about four 

 or five feet from the ground-level, and at the water's edge. Eggs 

 taken at Richmond Road on the 11th December are rather pale 

 greenish blue, unspotted ; they measure 7"55 in. 



Vidua principalis (Linn.), Dominican Widow-Bird. — Very 

 abundant all over the colony; found in flocks, both in winter and 

 summer plumage. Specimens were obtained from June to De- 

 cember, the males assuming their long tail feathers and strikingly 

 handsome breeding plumage in September and October. As 

 in Chera procne, the long-tailed males, even in December, 

 were singularly outnumbered by the tailless females and young 

 males, giving rise to the idea that the species is polygamous. 



2q 



